Valerie Marcella Merical, 77

Valerie Merical passed away unexpectedly Jan. 7 in Kingman, Arizona, daughter of Harold and Fern Cosner, beloved wife and mother, survived by her adoring husband of 60 years, Larry Burton Merical, and three children, Keersti Jacobson and husband Brian, Kord Merical and wife Heather, Kate Nelson and husband Eric.

Valerie was born and raised in California where she met and married her husband Larry who was serving in the military whom she then followed for the next 11 years as a Naval spouse. They came to Kalispell in 1974 where they fell in love with the Big Sky and decided to make it home and stayed raising a family and loving the community.

Valerie was kind, outgoing and strong, an exceptional cook putting love and passion in all she made, an award winning markswoman in pistol and rifle as well as muzzle loader. She was an artist in beading, quill work and brain tanning leather. She greatly enjoyed the peace and serenity of her flower gardens. She had a loved all things ocean and Hawaii.

She had a heart for others and was always giving of herself, but above these joys were her children and many grandchildren, Jake Jacobson, Andrew Merical, Ashley Merical, Kaylee Merical, Hadley Merical, Kordel Merical, and Gabe Nelson.

There is a space in our hearts only she filled, words can never come close to describing such loss, nothing can ever prepare you for losing someone you love, there will never have been enough time with them, there will always be words left unsaid and things uncompleted, but we also have a great hope and peace during this time of great sorrow and heartache, knowing that Jesus was her redeemer and savior and because of His great mercy and love for us we will be reunited with her for eternity never to be parted again that is our lasting hope. 1st Thessalonians 4:13-17